The best tranny choice, if it existed.

This is actually technically feasible but I HIGHLY doubt it would ever be seen. To set the stage - we all know that there are different ways of building a manual tranny linkage. You can have a linkage connecting the stick to the tranny or you can have it be cable operated. They're both "real" and have their own feel. Now - what's happening with steering systems? They used to be purely a direct connection but the trend is toward electric steering. It's appearing more and more and the quality is ever increasing (from its initial vague feel to the current "pretty good" level). How about throttle? Used to always be a cable between your pedal and the engine. No longer the case. Now there's no direct connection - just a potentiometer that tells a servo how much to gas to let into the engine. What's the conclusion? The solid connections of the past are being replaced by "drive by wire" and eventually "drive by light" technology. Could this happen as well with the shifter in a car? Sure. Soooo - when we consider that the current SMG of BMW is simply a regular manual transmission with a computer controlling the shifts via servoactuators, we could easily envision a modified system. A car with a clutch pedal and a shifter that can be 100% controlled by the driver. But, in heavy traffic or if one isn't into hill work, the driver presses the AM button (Auto-manual) and the car takes over. All shifting done by computer, just as currently occurs in an SMG car. In this way the driver could have the option of a REAL manual (not a paddle shift but the whole thing) when desired and a "not so great but better than nothing" automatic when desired. (DSG isn't known for being particularly good in fully auto mode). This would be my ultimate transmission.

OMG....here we go again... :argue:

Hey Ken, maybe we should start abyssing these kind of threads.:crazy:

you have the choice not to read the thread

Huh? Perhaps you mean SMG? Having driven DSG in A3 and TT it is very smooth in automatic mode. BMW's SMG, however, is known to be jerky.

Yup - Meant SMG. It was early in the morning.

You found it offensive? I guess I'm not really clear on what class of "these kind of threads" this merits inclusion within. Seemed like reasonable tech talk to me. Since Porsche doesn't yet have a DSG type of transmission it would seem like an acceptable object of conversation. Certainly more interesting than a troll post like "Is a Cayman just a rich man's Z?"

There are just too may "what if" threads. Wait till Santa Fe gets here, he will find lots of threads for you that have regurgitated the topic over and over and over.

Why didn't you just title your thread "Interpol vs. Chris R. - Round 11" ?

In an attempt to cut the OP a little slack, him obviously not aware of the heated discussions about transmissions lately, I see your point. I am personally not a big fan of the 'fly by wire' replacements to the mechanical connections. But if it were not for throttle by wire, we wouldn't have the traction control and Sport Chrono type features we have today. Shifting by wire will eventually become standard as we see manufacturers switch to DSG, which will allow a driver to have most of the benefits of manual shift, all of the benefits or automatic shift, and then some. Since a computer is doing all the shifting anyway, shift by wire is almost necessary. On the good old manual transmission, I can't think of any reason to add the expense and reliability risks of electrical controls. But only time will tell.

Nobody called you crazy, so chill. My point is that these kind of threads turn to boxing matches with same info regurgitated with pissing matches that follow.

Yes, you did. Review your post. You included an icon of a dot person that's officially entitled "crazy" and for which the icon is indicating "he's crazy" (circling a finger around forehead - quite a universal gesture). I'd be interested in how you could suggest a different interpretation. There's no need to suggest I chill, as you put it, btw. It implies I'm hot and bothered by your response (which I'm not). I didn't like your post and considered it rude but simply filed it as a single descriptor of your attitudes and opinions.

I am not the only one with that opinion. You are entitled to yours, I am to mine. Lets agree to disagree and move on.

Chris R. vs. Interpol Round 11, Daktarz, to answer your question, the best option and the only options that should ever exist is a 6 speed (or better) manual. There is no other answer...God has striken down all DSG, SMG or F1 technology as "evil sin". Those responsible for such technology will suffer for all eternity in hell. Interpol has been sentenced to drive a direct drive scooter from now on. * This response is to be interpreted as humour and not anything serious so don't bash me! xoxox Chris

Awesome idea. Only downside I could think of (if I had to, first thing that comes to mind because of the porsche’s great tactile feedback) is that similar to electronic steering all the sensations would be gone and it’d be like using a racing sim. Bleh. If they figured that out that’d be the best of both worlds Bumping ancient threads because was curious what people talked about back then / felt like sorting by old.